A new report by Daily Glow studies weather, pollution and melanoma to help you rank the skin healthiness of your city.

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THURSDAY, June 21, 2012 — Do you live in Portland, Ore.? Lucky you. Live in Vegas? Bummer.

In terms of skin in the game, where you live has a big impact on your skin health. Just in time for the summer, beauty and skin care Web site Daily Glow released a list of the best and worst American cities for your skin.

“Skin health is a combination of environmental, lifestyle and genetic factors,” says Daily Glow skin and beauty expert Jessica Wu, MD. “It’s important for Americans to understand that it is never too late to protect their skin and reverse sun damage – and that even the smallest changes have the power to save and protect their skin for years to come.”

If your town isn't ranked, here are some of the key factors in your environment that are affecting your skin's health.

UV exposure: Sunshine year-round might sound like tons of fun, but it can also harm your skin. UV radiation is the main factor responsible for skin cancer, as well as sunburns and premature aging. Some of the most highly ranked cities have long winters and plenty of cloudy protection. Of course, weather isn't the only factor. For example, cities in higher elevations tend to have more exposure to UV rays because of less cloud cover.

Pollution levels: Free radicals from pollution can damage the skin’s DNA and actually worsen the effects of ultraviolet rays on skin, so try to stay inside on those high-ozone days.

Smoking rates among adults:Smoking damages blood vessels that transport nutrients to skin tissue. With high taxes and bans, some cities have drastically reduced cigarette use.

Skin care doctors per capita: Some cities are flush with skin doctors while others, like Memphis, are under-served by dermatologists.

Physical activity:Exercise helps to boost oxygen and blood flow to the skin, makes you sweat to purge toxins from your pores and eases stress, among other benefits.

Number of tanning beds: No matter how many health warnings you've heard about indoor tanning, it's still a trend that's not going away any time soon. But it's more popular in some cities than others. San Francisco scores low on number of tanning beds; Fort Worth scores high on number of tanning beds.

Incidences of melanoma: The most dangerous type of skin cancer is prevalent in certain cities, such as San Diego.

Adults who've experienced a sunburn: Even in spite of constant sun, some cities are more vigilant than others about sun protection. Sunscreens need to protect against both UVA and UVB rays, according to a dermatologist cited in the report. Zinc-oxide sunscreen, for example, is a physical block that doesn't have chemicals that degrade over time. Hats are also a great way to prevent sun exposure.

Here are some other fun facts Daily Glow's study turned up:

The Best Cities For Your Skin

Portland, Ore., ranks as the best city for the skin because its long rainy season keeps people out of the sun, in addition to its low pollution and healthy lifestyle.

San Francisco has the lowest number of tanning beds per capita in the United States.

Baltimore has one of the lowest incidences of melanoma in the country, possibly because of local world-class healthcare resources.

Hawaii might enjoy its time in the sun, but the state is also known for the lowest rate of air-particle pollution in the country. The city has zero high-ozone days.

Boston contains the highest number of dermatologists per capita.

Austin has the most physically active population in the country, with 36.5 percent of adults engaging in vigorous physical activity for more than 20 minutes three times a week, according to the Census Bureau. That's good news for their bodies as well as their skin.

The Worst Cities For Your Skin

Las Vegas ranks worst for skin health. More than a fifth of its residents smoke. Its sunny, parched weather also leads to stressed out skin.

Los Angeles has the highest number of high ozone days (about a quarter of the year). The mountains around the city trap its abundant traffic pollution.

San Diego has 29.1 melanoma-incident cases per 100,000 people, making it the city with the most melanoma cases in the country.

Memphis' residents exercise less than the people of any other city in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fort Worth has a huge number of tanning beds. One dermatologist quips that there's practically one on every block. The city passed a law banning minors 16 and younger from tanning beds.

Tulsa has the highest skin-cancer death rate in the country, with 4.1 deaths per 100,000 people, according to the National Cancer Institute.

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